§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level and timing of the second stage price rise in the current year for each electricity board in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThis is for consideration in the light of the movement in the industry's costs and in the context of the financial target I announced on 16 January.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the date and amount of the known price rises in each electricity board in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThis is a matter for the electricity boards, which are statutorily obliged to publish their tariffs. I am asking the chairman of the Electricity Council to write to the hon. Member giving this information.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Woolwich East, of 14 March, what were the precise terms of the Government's request to the electricity industry to phase the current 30W year's price increase in two stages; and whether the industry was asked to ensure that the first stage should be in line with, or not more than, the current rate of inflation.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIn the light of the industry's estimates of its revenue requirements in 1980–81, the Government asked that the necessary price increases be phased in two stages. In discussions with the industry it was assumed that the first increase would be broadly in line with the rate of increase in the retail price index.